How are Stem Cells Related to Football?

Earlier this year, the National Football Leagues and the NFL’s players association settled a five hundred million dollar lawsuit and began a concussion initiative to bring awareness to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of concussion in its players. This initiative, according to Chairman Roger Goodell, was implemented to increase safety and protect players. The NFL concussion controversy has been in the news for some time and settled the lawsuit from players who have experienced traumatic brain injury as a result of repeated concussions. Repeated concussions cause a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE. Dr. Johnson treats patients who have suffered traumatic brain injury with SVF fat cell therapy. Fat stem cell therapy is believed to benefit patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries or concussions by helping to repair neural cells that have been damaged by impact or a lack of blood supply. While the body can heal itself in many ways, the brain, and other nerve cells do not heal quickly or regenerate. Stem cells have been researched for several years as a way to repair damaged nerve and brain cells. It was found that adipose fat stem cells could to treat damaged nerve cells. Because concussions weaken the blood barrier around the brain, these re-engineered cells have an easier time entering the brain and are able to get to right to work. Once reintroduced into the body, they begin working to help repair damaged tissue and reduce inflammation. While most can agree the NFL is moving in the right direction with prevention and education, some individuals feel left out as their head injuries occurred many years ago. Many players went without real concussion treatments like the concussion protocol players follow today and often returned to the game with concussion side effects. While fat stem cell therapy may benefit patients with traumatic brain injuries even when administered a few years after an injury, like most medical treatments the sooner a patient receives treatment after injury the better. If you have questions for Dr. Johnson about stem cell therapy, treating traumatic brain injury, or other neurological conditions, contact him at (972) 893-9849.